COVID-19 Update

 You MUST read the following in its entirety before enrolling. It is a lot of information, but has important details that you need to know.

You can access the enrollment system at the bottom of this page.

As you know, Covid-19 played havoc with our 2020 training.  Our curriculum and administrative policies have been adjusted to better deal with the disease. And it looks as though 2021 will get off to a more normal start. As the situation with Covid-19 is fluid and subject to additional changes, we are making Covid-related information available in this Covid-19 Update.

In case of conflict, the policies in this Covid-19 Update will take precedence over the information provided elsewhere in the website Having this information in one place will allow us to keep up with changes in a more efficient manner

THE USUAL COVID-19 POLICIES WILL APPLY

When you are indoors on campus (and outdoors if you will be within 6 feet of another person), you will be required to wear a mask or face covering over your nose and mouth and do your best to stay at least 6 feet away from other participants. No exceptions. In order to be open, we need to follow the rules.

You are responsible for supplying your own face mask. It is expected that you will be able to be mask-free and socially-distant during outdoor activities. Even if you plan to spend the day on the range, you will need your mask to enter the building for bathroom breaks, etc. Please bring your mask on each day of your class. If you do not comply with the rules, you will be sent home with no refund.

COVID SCREENING

When you arrive at class, you will be required to use hand sanitizer and to participate in a screening process to evaluate if you may be sick with Covid 19 or have been exposed to the virus.  You may also have your temperature checked.

These are the questions you will be asked:

Are you currently experiencing, or have you experienced in the past 14 days, any of the following symptoms?

• Fever (100.4° F/37.8° C or greater)
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Chills
• Head or muscle aches
• Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting

In the past 14 days, have you been in close proximity to anyone who was experiencing any of the above symptoms or has experienced any of the above symptoms since your contact?

In the past 14 days, have you been in close proximity to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

Have you been tested for COVID-19 and are waiting to receive test results?

If you will answer YES to any of these questions, WE DO NOT WANT YOU IN CLASS!  STAY HOME. DO NOT SHOW UP TO CLASS SICK.

IF YOU ARE STAYING HOME

Please call to let us know you will not be attending class.  The more advanced notice you can give us, the better. Even if it is the day of your class, please try to make contact with us if you will not be coming. There may be someone that needs to make up a portion of a class; if we know there will be an opening, we might be able to reach them in time.  We cannot always pick up the phone on teaching days; please leave a message if you get voicemail.   315-858-3321 (See cancellation details below)

HELMETS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT

In this time of Covid, it is STRONGLY advised that students supply their own DOT approved helmet for use in the course because, you know…germs. For the best protection, we recommend a full-face or modular (flip-up) helmet. Whatever your helmet choice, it must include shatter resistant eye protection: helmet face-shield/goggles/shatter resistant glasses.

Helmets will continue to be available to borrow on a limited basis. Any helmet that has been borrowed will be tagged and treated with disinfectant. In addition, borrowed helmets will then be placed in “helmet quarantine” for at least ten days to allow any lingering virus time to die off. As a result, some of our helmet inventory may be unavailable at any given time. There is the possibility that the size you need may be in quarantine at the time of your class.

To ensure that you have a helmet that fits, and for your own peace-of-mind, please bring your own helmet, if possible.

WHAT’S NOT AVAILABLE

Gloves and other articles of riding gear will not be available to borrow. YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN RIDING GEAR TO CLASS. If you are unprepared, you will be sent home and will lose your tuition. The following pages contain details about required riding gear

CLASSROOM CHANGES

In an effort to reduce Covid-19 transmission, MSF has provided us with an “interim curriculum” to replace classroom content in the BRC, BRC2-LW and 3WBRC.  The new curriculum is shortened to reduce exposure, and certain elements have been adjusted to eliminate the use of shared materials.  The core content is comparable.  The interim curriculum is not PowerPoint dependent, and may be taught outdoors in a socially-distant manner without masks if the weather and scheduling permit.  Please bring a folding chair to use in the event of “outdoor classroom” and so you have a place to sit during your range session breaks.  (You can leave it in your car to start with; report to the classroom and we will direct you from there.)  We will continue to post classes on our usual schedule, but the actual overall class time will likely be shorter.

SCHEDULING

Last year we lost a big chunk of our training season due to the Covid lock-down, and tinkered with our schedule in an effort to provide the most training to the most people by making efficient use of our range time.  That will continue this season.

Some weekend classes and most weekday classes will be run on our usual 2-day schedule. Some weekend BRC classes will be scheduled with an evening classroom session during the week and will meet on Saturday and Sunday morning (or afternoon) for the range portions; another class will be on the range in the afternoon.

The course content is the same whichever schedule you choose.

PERMITS AND LICENSING

Currently, getting a permit and amending your license after your class are both in-person transactions requiring an appointment at the DMV. This may change as Covid restrictions relax.

You do not need a motorcycle learner’s permit to participate in a BRC or a 3WBRC, but you will need a permit when your class is over to use your course completion card (road test waiver document) to obtain your license.  You do need a permit to participate in the BRC2-LW.  All of the licensing classes – BRC, 3WBRC and BRC2-LW – require participants to have a valid car driver’s license.

It is suggested that you get your learner’s permit as soon as possible.  You must get a learner’s permit if:

• you plan to practice ride your motorcycle on the street before your class starts*
• plan to practice ride your motorcycle after your class ends, but before you get your license from the DMV*
• you are under age 18 and want to get the 6-month clock ticking. Riders under age 18 need to have a motorcycle learner’s permit for 6 months before they can apply the road test waiver*
• you are an experienced rider planning to take the BRC2-LW to obtain your motorcycle license.  This course requires that you have both a car driver’s license and a motorcycle learner’s permit…plus a bunch of experience as a rider…to take the class*

Once your class date is confirmed, consider securing an appointment at the DMV for the time frame after your class.  This way you can swoop in and apply the road test waiver with little delay.  If you do not already have a motorcycle learner’s permit (see above), you can arrange to take the permit test at this time.  One stop shopping.

*A reminder that permit holders are required to practice under the supervision of a licensed motorcyclist that is at least 21 years old.

See rules for motorcycle permit holders

PAPERWORK

In the pages that follow, you will see that you are asked to bring your original car driver’s license, as well as a copy of the license, to class. (The BRC2-LW also requires an original learner’s permit and learner’s permit copy.) Please remember to make your copies and to bring the originals. Your RiderCoach(es) will need to see the original and will collect the copies. We would like for our coaches to not have to handle your license and/or permit to make copies because you forgot to bring them.

In addition to the NYSMSP waiver and indemnification form, all students are now required to sign a Covid-19-specific waiver and indemnification form when they arrive at class.  Click here to view the forms (and special instructions for those under age 18. Students under age 18 will also need a parent’s signature on both documents.).  You must familiarize yourself with their contents prior to your class; you are required to sign them in order to participate.

COVID AND CANCELLATIONS

If you are sick, or have been in contact with someone that is sick, we don’t want you in our class! We are a small business that was hit hard by Covid closures. We do not want to risk the health of our students and staff.

To this end, we have made a few adjustments to our normally stringent cancellation policy. Our cancellation policy is strict because our classes are small, the demand for them is high, and the training season is short. If you reserve a spot and cancel at the last minute or don’t show up, it has an impact on our ability to offer this program.

The normal, pre-Covid policy is that if you cancel or reschedule, there is a $20 fee.  If you cancel within the week of your class, the fee bumps up to $100 (because now we  have to pay someone to hit the phones and try to get a replacement from another class so that we are not losing the income from your slot); and if you cancel the day before your class or don’t show up, the fee is the full tuition. (Unless we find a new student replacement, then the fee is reduced to $100.)

DONT’ SHOW UP SICK NOW WHAT HAPPENS?

Now, we don’t want you to show up if you are sick. And we realize that if you get sick, you may not know about it in advance.  So, in fairness, here’s what we are going to do.  The cancellation policy will stay the same UNLESS YOU ARE CANCELING DUE TO COVID 19.  If you are canceling due to COVID, the fee will be $20, regardless of the time frame.  To discourage people from saying they are canceling due to Covid, but are really canceling because they got invited to a barbecue or because it might rain, there is a caveat:  If you cancel due to Covid 19 and claim the $20 rate, you will not be eligible to participate in a class for the next 30 days.

If you are a week or more away from you class start date, or are cancelling for any reason other than Covid 19 at any time, please cancel your class online. Go to www.gomotorcycling.net and click into the enrollment system as though you are going to enroll.  At the top right click “Manage Registration”.  Once you are in the enrollment system, you can make changes after you enter your confirmation number.  Note: If you are rescheduling your class, you will need to first cancel your existing class and then re-enroll in your new class.  If you fail to cancel the existing class, you will be charged for both classes,

If your class starts within the next 7 days, and you are cancelling due to Covid 19, do not cancel through the enrollment system or you will be charged the normal rate.  Instead, please call 315-858-3321; leave a message AND email our office to get the $20 Covid cancellation rate.

If you start your class and fail to finish for any reason, the full tuition will apply, as per usual.  We may be able to get you into a later class at no charge or a reduced rate, depending on the circumstances.

We hope that everyone stays well, will honor the cancellation policy in the spirit in which it is intended, and will join us for class, rain or shine.

Thanks for reading all that!
Now that you are familiar with our COVID-19 policies

ENROLL NOW